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refute

 - 3 dictionary results

re⋅fute

  [ri-fyoot]
Use refute in a Sentence
–verb (used with object), -fut⋅ed, -fut⋅ing.
1. to prove to be false or erroneous, as an opinion or charge.
2. to prove (a person) to be in error.
Origin:
1505–15; < L refūtāre to check, suppress, refute, rebut, equiv. to re- re- + -fūtāre presumably, “to beat” (attested only with the prefixes con- and re-; cf. confute )

Related forms:
re⋅fut⋅a⋅ble  [ri-fyoo-tuh-buhl, ref-yuh-tuh-] , adjective
re⋅fut⋅a⋅bil⋅i⋅ty, noun
re⋅fut⋅a⋅bly, adverb
re⋅fut⋅er, noun

Synonyms:
1. disprove, rebut. 1, 2. confute.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To refute
re·fute   (rĭ-fyōōt')   
tr.v.   re·fut·ed, re·fut·ing, re·futes

  1. To prove to be false or erroneous; overthrow by argument or proof: refute testimony.

  2. To deny the accuracy or truth of: refuted the results of the poll.


[Latin refūtāre; see bhau- in Indo-European roots.]
re·fut'a·bil'i·ty (rĭ-fyōō'tə-bĭl'ĭ-tē, rěf'yə-tə-) n., re·fut'a·ble (rĭ-fyōō'tə-bəl, rěf'yə-tə-) adj., re·fut'a·bly adv., re·fut'er n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

refute 
1513, "refuse, reject," from L. refutare "drive back, repress, repel, rebut," from re- "back" + -futare "to beat," probably from PIE base *bhat- "to strike down" (cf. beat). Meaning "prove wrong" dates from 1545. Since c.1964 linguists have frowned on the subtle shift in meaning towards "to deny," as it is used in connection with allegation.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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